Herkimer County is back at the bargaining table after three parties have expressed interest in purchasing Country Manor on Route 28.

For years, the county has tried to either downsize or sell the operations at the adult care home as costs increased and reimbursements from the state declined. This year, the county budgeted $531,000 for the facility, though in any given year the county loses between $500,000 and $600,000, said Legislative Chairman Vincent Bono, R-Schuyler.

Now, county Administrator James Wallace said they’re looking to sell the property, though he declined to disclose the asking price.

The county has estimated repair costs to be about $920,000, Wallace said, noting that a new heating system needs to be installed as well as repairs to the roof.

“If someone wants to spruce up (the facility), that’s a whole other endeavor,” he said.

In 2010, Valley Health Services pulled out of negotiations to operate Country Manor because costs to repair the facility were expected to exceed a $4.2 million grant the health care company received from the state.

The repairs Valley Health planned included converting Country Manor into an assisted-living facility, which Valley Health officials said accounted for the cost discrepancy.

The terms of the proposed agreement would have allowed the county to sell the building for $1 while paying Valley Health $1 million over four years for repairing the building and property, officials said at the time.

The process

After the interested parties, who were not disclosed by Wallace, and the county meet to discuss expectations and prices, Wallace said those who are most favorable will be brought to the county Legislature’s Human Resources, Properties and Ways and Means committees.

He said the interested parties do have operations in the state and are local.

Wallace said he expects the options to be presented to the committees within the next month. A decision then would move to the full Legislature.

The county also must make sure the party is in good standing with the state health department, and any sale would have to be approved by the state.

State Department of Health spokesman Peter Constantakes said a certificate of need application would have to be issued by the buyer and reviewed by the department based on three categories:

*Character and competence of the buyer.

*The need for a facility.

*The finances to purchase the facility.

“A change of ownership generally goes through very smoothly,” he said.

Employees, residents

Wallace said employees likely would be concerned about their jobs and possibly the difference in benefit packages between the public and private sector.

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“If this happens, people would be granted interviews,” he said, in regard to employees’ positions.

Bono said there about 27 employed at the manor.

“Anybody that we’ve talked to … (we’re) making sure the employees are given the opportunity to apply,” he said.

Legislator Gary Hartman, D-Herkimer, told the board at February’s meeting that the manor isn’t a business, it’s a service.

“Our County Manor residents are not products, by-products or merchandise,” he said. “They are our people.”

Legislator Robert Schrader, R-Herkimer, shared those concerns.

“I understand you don’t want to sell it to someone who’s going to kick the people out,” he said. “They’re Herkimer County residents. They’re people I represent.”

Wallace said that the manor’s about 32 residents are the priority.

“The biggest issue for us to tie down is taking care of the residents,” he said. “We have to be comfortable that that has been locked down.”

Schrader also noted that in order to get his “yes” vote, the employees also must be looked out for.

“I want to make sure they’re taken care of as far as placement,” he said.